





















REPORT 


ON THE 


INTRODUCTION 


OF 


*;/Wr ■&'. 


s®®@ wii® m ib 


INTO THE 


CITY OF BOSTON. 


BY R. H . EDDY, 

Civil Engineer . 





* 


/ 


BOSTON: 

JOHN H. EASTBURN, CITY PRINTER, 































/ 




REPORT 


ON THE 



INTRODUCTION 


(D IF U WillP IE IS 

INTO THE 

CITY OF BOSTON. 


BY R. H. EDDY, 

* I 



Civil Engineer. 


BOSTON: 

JOHN H. EASTBURN, CITY PRINTER, 

No. 18 State Street. 

1836. 











s 









NOV 3 1906 
D. of 0. 



< \ • 







Boston , June 13, 1836. 


Hon. S. T. Armstrong, Mayor of Boston. 

Sir —By your letter of January 14th, I am directed to 
proceed and survey Horn and other Ponds, emptying into 
Mystic Pond, also Spy and Fresh Ponds in Cambridge, 
and by your subsequent letter of April 21st, to examine and 
report on the cost of introduction of the waters of Spot and 
Mystic Ponds into the city. Having attended to the duties 
therein expressed, I beg leave to submit the following results 
of my labors. 

In the examination of a subject so important in its nature 
as the introduction of pure soft water into our city, I felt 
much delicacy, as I supposed it had met with such thorough in¬ 
vestigation from Mr. Daniel Treadwell in 1825, and also from 
my esteemed friend Mr. Baldwin, in 1834, that any further 
elucidations would be hopeless. I have however, given the 
subject the consideration the little time and bad season of the 
year has allowed. I regret circumstances will not admit 
closer researches into the quantity of water supplied by some 
of the Ponds in this vicinity, but trust sufficient evidence 
can be offered in regard to the above, to satisfy the Commit¬ 
tee on this subject, and the public of the preference of these 
waters to distant sources. 

We should be very cautious in the choice of a project for 



4 


the supply of water, for many reasons. The consumption of 
water by the inhabitants of a large city is extremely slow 
after its introduction ; many years elasping before the quan¬ 
tity the works are capable of affording is thoroughly distribut¬ 
ed. The income is in proportion to the quantity used. If 
the introduction is in proportion to the consumption, and at 
such a cost from time to time as to afford a good interest on 
the principal invested, the works must always continue to be 
productive. In this case, they admit the investment of the 
interest in iron pipes and means of further distribution, which 
becomes so much addition to the capital stock, and contri¬ 
butes to increase receipts. On the contrary, should we at 
the commencement invest a large amount of capital in works 
calculated to introduce at once a quantity sufficient for the 
consumption at a future period, when the city shall have in¬ 
creased greatly in size, but a small portion of this water is at 
first taken by the inhabitants, and of course, the income be¬ 
ing always in proportion to the consumption, much, if not a 
greater part of the capital invested must be unproductive; and 
in a short time, the simple or compound interest lost on the 
unproductive portion exceeds the capital itself, thus causing 
the actual cost of the works, (when the period of time shall 
arrive, that the consumption shall equal their means of sup¬ 
ply,) to exceed perhaps double or treble the first outlay, and 
always be an unproductive property. 

In point of purity, our fresh water lakes, fed by springs 
and mountain brooks, are infinitely superior to rivers, the lat¬ 
ter being generally charged with detritus, in a greater or less 
degree, while nature in the former, has afforded the means 
which art takes to remove these impurities. These lakes 
are large settling reservoirs of themselves, and the waters de¬ 
rived from them are of the purest nature. By the introduc¬ 
tion of such, we are not subject to costly projects of filtra¬ 
tion or to the erection of large and expensive reservoirs to 
remove the extraneous matter. Such being the fact, it be¬ 
comes a highly important consideration, whether it is not 
cheaper in the end to expend at first a much greater sum to 


5 


bring the waters of a pure lake into the city, than would be 
necessary to introduce those of a river. The fresh water 
rivers around Boston are the Charles and Neponset, each of 
which, in its course to the ocean, is the means of operating 
paper mills, dye houses, cotton mills, and factories of various 
descriptions. The daily contributions of foreign matter from 
these sources must assist materially to impair the qualities of 
/these waters, and would be a never failing objection so long 
as they existed. There is not water flowing in sufficient 
quantity in dry seasons, in the Charles or Neponset to elevate 
to a proper height the supply desired for the city of Boston. 
Therefore, all projects in relation to their efficiency in this 
respect must fail. 

Within a compass of thirty miles around Boston, are many 
fresh water lakes, all at a sufficient altitude above the level of 
the sea to reach the highest land by the force of gravity ; but 
as all these lakes have their outlets into either the Neponset, 
Charles, or Concord Rivers, they act as feeders, and are 
among the principal sources from which these rivers derive 
their water. It is evident the greater the capacity and the 
higher these lakes are above tide water, the more valuable 
they become as tributaries to streams, on which are situated 
extensive mills and factories; and when it is known that in 
order to introduce five or six million gallons of water into the 
city, (a supply for a future period,) it would be necessary to 
take from any pond, a quantity of water sufficient with an or¬ 
dinary fall of 16 feet, to operate a large cotton factory, of 
four or five thousand spindles, the damage to works already 
built at different points on the several streams, into which the 
waste waters of these lakes flow, increases in the ratio above 
stated, and must, in many instances, be almost incalculable; 
and were the city government authorized by an act of the 
Legislature to take a pond with these liabilities, they would 
be involved in extensive and endless litigation and expense. 

The waters of the Ponds of Framingham and vicinity, 
known by the names of Farm, Shakum and Long Ponds, 
empty into Concord river. Some of the works below these 


6 


sources, are Brown’s Mills, the Framingham Cotton Mill, 
Framingham Carpet Factory, Saxonville Factories at Sax- 
onville village, Billerica Mills, Faulkner’s Factories, the Iron 
Works, the Middlesex Canal, Whipple’s Powder Mills, Iron 
Works at Massack Falls, and one or two Factories at Low¬ 
ell, all of which would be more or less injured, but particu¬ 
larly the Canal, by the abstraction of these waters. The 
same objections apply to Punkapog Pond, emptying into the 
Neponset, which could only be brought into the city by iron 
pipes, which would be of such number and dimensions as to 
exceed in expense a sum far beyond what the consumption 
would ever warrant. (See Mr. Odiorne’s letter concerning 
Spot Pond, at end of report.) 

Since the introduction and extensive use of Anthracite 
coal, steam power has become cheaper than heretofore, while 
a resort was had to wood for fuel. This is evident from the 
great increase of steam engines within a few years, in this 
and other cities. Anthracite coal, from the facilities of 
transportation by canals and rail roads, and by the great im¬ 
provements in furnaces and steam machinery, is fast becom¬ 
ing an important article of fuel. As the means of getting the 
same to market increase, this coal must be afforded much 
cheaper than the present rates per ton. The operation of a 
steam engine by pine wood, has always been attended with 
great expense, and must, as this kind of fuel becomes scarc¬ 
er, be still more expensive; whereas anthracite coal will evi¬ 
dently grow cheaper, and we may look forward to the exten¬ 
sive introduction of steam as a cheap moving power. I have 
conversed with many of our practical mechanics on this sub¬ 
ject, and find their opinions coincide with my own. 

Mr. Otis Tufts of this city estimates it costs him two shil¬ 
lings per horse power, per day, of eleven or twelve hours, to 
operate his steam engine, and gives the above amount 33J 
cents per horse power, from experience, as safe for a large 
engine. Mr. A. S. Dawley, a steam engine builder of this 
place, calculates that when coal is at $8 per ton, the expense 
of operating a steam engine would be as follows : 


i 


7 


5 horse power, 


10 

15 

20 

30 

40 

50 


cc 


cc 


cc 


cc 


cc 


CC 


cc 


cc 


cc 


cc 


cc 


cc 


$2 

3 

5 

6 
9 

12 

15 


00 

50 

00 

50 

50 

50 

50 


The average cost by Mr. Dawley’s estimate, would be 32 
cents per horse power, and he further says a careful and pru¬ 
dent engineer will fall short in the amount of fuel burnt. As 
coal could be afforded by the quantity much less than $8 per 
ton, a further reduction might be made in the cost ; but my 
estimates of the expense of raising water by steam power are 
based on the above calculations. 

From these, and many other considerations I might enu¬ 
merate, I am led to believe we can be supplied with an abun¬ 
dance of pure soft water, from resources within five miles, in 
any quantity which may ever be wanted, at a much less ex¬ 
penditure than from any other source within thirty miles of 
the city. 

LIST OF PONDS SURVEYED AND EXAMINED. 

Stoneham. 
Woburn. 

cc 

cc 
cc 

Medford. 

West Cambridge. 

cc 

Cambridge. 

The letters of reference A. C. F. H., &c. against the 
above, are the same referred to in Dr. C. T. Jackson’s re¬ 
port on the analysis of these waters. 

By reference to the maps and plans accompanying this re¬ 
port, it will be seen that all the waters flowing from Horn, 
Winter and Wedge Ponds, run into Symmes’ river, which, 
after receiving the contents of Abbajonna stream, discharges 


A. 

Spot Pond, 

260 

acres, 

C. 

Horn u 

102.83 

cc 

F. 

Wedge u 

20.63 

cc 

H j 

\ Winter Pond. 

, 15.60 

) u 

1 Little “ 

adjacent 3.47 

c cc 

E. 

Mystic u 

227.89 

\ 

cc 

B j 

; Spy 

124.34 

) u 

1 Little “ 

adjacent 16.23 

\ u 

D. 

Fresh “ 

180.57 

cc 


8 


into the head of Mystic Pond. The outlets of Fresh and 
Spy Pond unite in Alewive Brook, which discharges into 
Mystic Pond outlet, a few rods below the southern extremity 
of the Pond. By raising a dam where the Middlesex Canal 
crosses Mystic river, the whole of the Ponds above enume¬ 
rated might be united. But the results of the surveys and 
examinations have proved that the quantity of water in Mys¬ 
tic Pond alone, is so great as never to render it necessary to 
resort to either of the others. 

Spot Pond in Stoneham, was chosen by Mr. Daniel 
Treadwell, in 1825, after mature deliberation, as the best 
and cheapest source of supply to the city. His prudent 
judgment led him rather to underrate the quantity of water 
produced by the Pond, his object being to prove the Pond 
capable of supplying what he estimated the quantity of water 
required for the city at that time, viz. 1,600,000 gallons per 
day. He affirms in his report, u that in the summer of 1822 
the Pond was drawn down to a level, 8 feet below the pres¬ 
ent wasteway, and that it filled again the succeeding winter 
so as to flow over the wasteway.** By the winter , I pre¬ 
sume he means from the latter part of the month of October 
to the first of April, a period of five months. Mr. T. also 
supposed the superficial area of the Pond was 220 acres, 
whereas it is upwards of 260. On the 26th of April last, I 
visited Spot Pond, on a reconnaissance of a route of pipes 
therefrom to Bunker Hill. I guaged the flow at the outlet, 
which I found was delivering 6,744 cubic feet per second, or 
4,370,112 gallons per day. The ground at this time was rath¬ 
er dry, and the season might be termed moderate. The leak 
at the gate and through the dam, amounts to upwards of a mil¬ 
lion gallons per day in a dry season; so that from time to time 
the discharge varies from one to five million gallons per day. 
Assuming the superficial area of the pond, for the sake of 
calculation, to lose 40 acres when the pond is drawn down 8 
feet, the mean area would equal 240 acres, or 10,454,400 
square feet, which multiplied by 8 feet depth, gives a volume 
of 83,635,200 cubic feet, or 627,264,000 gallons ; equivalent 


9 


to 1,718,531 gallons per day. Allowing the discharge and 
waste of the pond to be but one million gallons per day, be¬ 
sides supplying the evaporation, which is very low, this added 
to the above gives 2,718,531 gallons ; and the addition of GO 
acres, which 1 propose to make to the pond, will give a fur¬ 
ther quantity of 429,633 gallons per day, which with the 
above, equals 3,14S,164 gallons. Therefore I shall feel safe 
m estimating this pond capable of supplying, on the average, 
from 2,500,000 to 3,000,000 gallons per day. 

The season being as yet, unfavorable to acertain by guag- 
ing , the quantity of water wasted from Mystic Pond in a dry 
time, I am obliged to rely on the statements of individuals 
acquainted with the flow. Mr. T. F. Mayhew, who has 
resided at Bacon’s Mills many years, informs me that u in 
spring freshets, when the water is highest, the head is about 
8 feet ; that is two feet above the top of a dam 20 feet long. 
Generally, through the spring months, the head is from 6^ to 
7 feet. When the springs are lowest in summer or autumn, 
two gates, each one foot square, will reduce the head of 
water in 12 or 14 hours to about 4 feet ; that is 2 feet below 
the top of the dam. This is not frequently the case for any 
considerable length of time.” Two gates, under these cir¬ 
cumstances, would deliver about 20 cubic feet per second. 
From other sources, I think I am safe in allowing the Pond 
to receive as much more, amounting in dry seasons to 40 
cubic feet, or 300 gallons per second, equivalent to 12,960,000 
gallons per day ; so that it will be perceived there can be no 
further question as to the ability of Mystic Pond to supply 
any quantity our city may ever require. 

By examination of a map of Boston, it will be found about 
one fifth of the city lays above a horizontal plane, 20 feet 
above the highest tides ; and the remaining four fifths, or prin¬ 
cipal part of the city, is below this plane. The portion 
above, I shall denominate high service , and the other, low ser¬ 
vice ; the same being represented by red dotted lines on map 
of Water Region. It is evident from the present density of 
buildings of the high service , that it can never increase to a 
2 


I 


10 


much greater extent; and that all the future increase in build¬ 
ing and population must be in the portion termed low service. 
The probability is, the high service of the city will always be 
occupied by private dwellings, and the low service by trades¬ 
men, mechanics, artizans, and a portion of the community 
devoted to manufacturing pursuits. The consumption then 
of the high service, can never be compared with that of the 
low, in the ratio of its extent of surface ; and would not at 
any future period exceed one million gallons per day. The 
height to which the water should be raised for the low ser¬ 
vice, I have fixed at 60 feet above highest tides, or 40 feet 
above the divisional plane. The expense of raising water to 
this height by steam would be as follows. 1,000,000 gallons 
—^-7.48=133690 cubic feet; 133690x62,5 lbs. per cubic 
foot=S355625 lbs. Suppose the steam engine to work 20 
hours per day, and the remainder of the time to be consum¬ 
ed in oiling and repairs, the quantity raised per minute would 


8355625 

1200 


=6963 


lbs. raised 60 feet high per minute, = 


417780 lbs. raised one foot high per minute, = 


417780 

"32000” 


13,056 horse power ; to which add one fifth loss by friction 
and otherwise=15,667, say 16 horse power to raise one mil¬ 
lion gallons 60 feet. At the rate of 33 cents per horse power, 
for 11 hours, the fuel would cost 60 cents for 20 hours ; equiv¬ 
alent to $9,60 per day. 


Gallons. 


Per Day. 

Per Year. 

1,000,000 

raised 60 feet cost. 

$9 60 

3,504 00 

2,000,000 

cc cc cc 

19 20 

7,008 00 

3,000,000 

cc cc cc 

28 80 

10,512 00 


Allowing each tenant to consume 200 gallons per day, 
which is the utmost extent of consumption in any city at 
present; 1,000,000 gallons would supply 5000 tenants. 
The average charge of rents in Philadelphia, is $5,34, and 
the daily supply to each in 1835, was 1S7 gallons. In Lon¬ 
don 199493 tenants receive an average daily supply of 180 












11 




gallons ol water at the cost of $6,69 to each. Suppose each 
tenant in Boston to pay $5,50 per year rent. 


Gallons. 


Tenants. 

Price per 
Tenant. 

Yearly Rent. 

Cost of fuel for 
raising same by 

1,000,000 

will 

5,000 

$5 50 

$ 

27,500 

00 

steam. 

$3,504 

00 

2,000,000 

supply 

10,000 

U 

55,000 

00 

7,00S 

00 

3,000,000 

15,000 

tc 

82,500 

00 

10,512 

00 


Capital at 6 per cent required to produce interest sufficient 
to raise one, two and three million gallons per day, 60 feet 
high, when coal is $8 per ton. 

1,000,000 gallons.$5S,400 00 

2,000,000 “. 116,800 00 

3,000,000 “. 175,200 00 

These amounts added to the cost of construction of the 

works from Mystic Pond, will give the expense of supplying 
the city with one, two or three million gallons per day from 
this source. 

Mode of introducing Water from Spot Pond. 

The face of the country between Spot Pond and Medford 
village is exceedingly hilly, abounding in ravines. The 
Mountain Brook which crosses the Andover Turnpike, near 
Mr. Trull’s house, branches off here in two directions ; one 
arm up a rocky valley to the east, and the other up another 
valley, or depression of the hills, to the west of Mr. Trull’s ; 
and extending thence very nearly to Spot Pond. The western 
arm or branch of the brook, rises in a powerful spring north 
of Mr. Ridgley’s house, on the Mountain Road, so called. 
It is through these gorges the only routes exist for a conduit 
pipe from the pond. Both valleys and surrounding hills are 
very rocky, and an excavation through any part of the same 
for a pipe, must necessarily be attended with great expense, 
from the quantity of rock to be blasted. The western valley 
extends in a straight direction from near the Pond to Boston, 
upwards of three quarters of a mile. Observing the level of 
the top of the hills to keep up throughout the whole distance, 
it occurred to me that should it prove on trial to be the case, 
if a convenient approach to each other could be found and a 


















12 


dam be thrown across, an immense addition to the pond 
could be thus effected at a trifling expense ; that is to say, at 
much less than the cost of the conduit pipe the same dis¬ 
tance. I was highly gratified in finding my anticipations 
prove correct, and a spot was found at the very termination 
of the valley, presenting remarkable facilities for the erection 
of a dam, and within thirty rods of a fine quarry of building 
stone ; thus intercepting the waters of the western branch of 
the Mountain Brook. 

An artificial reservoir, or addition to the capacity of the 
Pond may be here formed of 60 acres, of the shape denoted 
on the maps and plans. The evaporation from this reservoir 
would be supplied by the waters of the brook, and a large 
surplus would be left for daily consumption. 

Leaving the dam thus proposed, the route of the pipe, de¬ 
noted on the plan by the red line, continues in good ground 
a short distance to the Andover turnpike, into which it passes 
and runs therein about 120 rods, to near the point of recross¬ 
ing the same by Mountain Brook. Thence it follows the 
general direction of the brook, through the low grounds to 
Mystic River, a short distance below the bridge in Medford. 
Crossing the river, it curves to the south until it meets Med¬ 
ford turnpike ; continuing throughout the same and crossing 
the Middlesex Canal at the toll house of the turnpike. From 
thence it proceeds in the road to the foot of Bunker Hill 
street, up the same to the reservoir on the summit. 

By my surveys the top of the reservoir on Bunker Hill is 
fixed at 98,961 feet above the coping of the Dry Dock in 
the Navy Yard ; and the surface of the water in Spot Pond is 
found to be 138,961 feet above the same base, giving a fall of 
40 feet from the Pond to the reservoir. As it is the intention 
to make a reservoir of the whole of Spot Pond, and to draw 
the w r ater of the same down eight feet, if required, the head 
at the lowest stage of the Pond would be thirty two feet. 

The following are the depths of some of the principal 
points in the city below Spot Pond reservoir, on Bunker 


13 


Hill, calculated from the levels of the same in Mr. 
report to the Jamaica Pond Corporation. 

1. First step at street going up to the State 

House, marked on end, - 

2. Floor of State House, - 

3. Mark on north gate post of Mr. Gardiner 

Greene’s house, about 2 or 3 inches 
above foot walk, - 

4. Bottom of column of Tremont House, - 

5. Mark at east post of S. Appleton’s house 

Beacon street, about six inches above 
foot walk, - 

6. Mark on stone foundation of Dr. Keep’s 

back yard in Beacon street, about one 

foot above foot walk and ten feet below 

/ 

the gateway, ----- 

7. Mark on basement story of house No. 6 

Park street, two inches above foot walk, 

8. Mark on underpinning of Mr. Jackson’s 

house, Somerset street, No. 21, 

9. Mark at corner of Myrtle and Belknap 

streets Provision store, about one foot 
above foot walk, - 

10. Mark N. E. corner of Myrtle and Han¬ 

cock streets, about one foot above foot 
walk and two feet from corner, 

11. Mark on underpinning of Mr. Lemuel 

Pope’s house, corner of Bowdoin and 
Derne streets, upper side, 

12. Mark on top of foundation of iron fence, 

corner of Mrs. Blake’s house, corner 
of Bowdoin square, corner of square 
and Cambridge street, 8 inches above 
foot walk, - 

13. Upper step of Purchase street Meeting 

House, . 


i 


Baldwin’s 

FEET 

30.261 
2,651 

65,641 

57,871 

49.261 

u 

u 

u 

u 

l 

CL 

cc 

77,451 

82,801 


14 


14. Upper step of Mr. Topliff’s front door, 

in Oliver street, - 39,561 

15. Highest point of Fort Hill, near the 

centre of circular enclosure, - - 37,321 

16. Mark on south edge stone, near head of 

Gibbs’ lane, ----- 49,261 

17. Mark on stone of Mr. Waterston’s yard 

corner of Oliver and High streets, near 
corner of edge stone, - - - 

18. Mark on octagonal stone post near E. 

Reynolds’ house, corner of High and 
Hamilton streets, about 15 feet below 
the corner, - 

19. Mark on north end of gun house, Fort 

Hill, ten bricks below top of window, 
about level with the street, in a line 
with that end of the house, 

20. Top of plinth of columns of the Market 

House, ------ 94,811 

21. Coping of reservoir in North square, - 73,221 

22. Highest point on Copps Hill, - - 4S,56l 

23. Coping of Dry Dock, in Charlestown 

Navy Yard, ----- 98,961 

The distance from the dam to the reservoir on Bunker 
Hill, is exactly five miles. In order to ensure the delivery 
of from 2| to 3 millions gallons per day, and for reasons con¬ 
nected with the future introduction of Mystic Pond, I have 
estimated on the size of a pipe to discharge four millions gal¬ 
lons per day. Experienced engineers always increase the 
quantity required, one third or one half, in their calculations 
for the size and discharge of pipes. By De Prony’s formula, 
the proper size of the pipe is determined as follows. 

Q—38,1 16a/D 5 J 

Q=discharge per second=6.17 cubic feet. 

D=diameter. 

j__ h_ head_ 32 

l length 26400 
h=32 L=26400 







15 


From the above formula, we find a pipe 1,849 feet, or say 
22 inches diameter, would be sufficient for our purpose. 

From the reservoir, I should recommend two mains, each 
18 inches in diameter, laid through Eden and Main streets, 
Charlestown, to Warren Bridge, a distance of 4,700 feet, 
crossing the same to the city. The length of Warren bridge 
is 1394 feet, from abutment to abutment. Crossing the 
bridge by pipes may be effected in various ways, all simple 
and easy of construction, without detriment either to the 
mains, navigation or travel over the same. One reason for 
preferring two mains is based on a remark in a letter to me, 
by F. Graff, Esq., Superintendent of the Philadelphia Water 
Works. Mr. G. says, u Mr. Walker of London, calculat¬ 
ed that under a head of 56 feet from our reservoir to the sum¬ 
mit of our city, 8,000,000 gallons would flow through a 20 
inch main in 24 hours. No doubt this result would take 
place, if the pipe was allowed to be open the whole time, 
and the flow to be constant for the 24 hours ; but this is not 
the case with water works where the water only gains an in¬ 
crease of velocity in the pipes, in proportion to the quantity 
used. In Philadelphia, at times of large fires, I have seen 
15 or 20 hoses attached. The flow of water from them at 
first, is very tardy , and until the velocity of water increases 
in the mains to the increase of consumption required, it takes 
two or three hoses to supply a fire engine, when after the 
water in the main gets its speed, one hose is sufficient. 
From these causes, the calculations and formulas fail, and as 
Mr. Walker says, to overcome this, the only means is to make 
the mains large enough. When the draft of water is great in 
our city, say 4,000,000 gallons per day, the main calculated 
to give S,000,000 gallons fails, and the effect of head be¬ 
comes much weakened, and in high sections of the city the 
flow from hydrants is very slow. To obviate this difficulty, 
we have added another main of 20 inches. In cities, to save 
expense, small pipes are frequently laid. This is generally 
done by mistaken calculations that if a main be 20 inches, 4 
branch pipes of ten inches must be sufficient, as they are 



16 


equal in area to the main, when perhaps to these latter pipes 
of 10 inches, there may be 40 or 50 lateral pipes attached of 
double the area of the main. Consequently, if possible , they 
would give a double supply of water. On this account, I 
carry large feeders from the main to the distant lateral pipes. 
It is owing to this system our head is kept uniformly good in 
every section of the city.” 

Mode of introducing the Water of Mystic Pond. 

During extreme high tides the fresh water flowing down 
the outlet of Mystic Pond meets the salt water coming up, 
and at times the water at the lower extremity of the pond is 
slightly affected by the sea. By raising a dam at the outlet 
to the height of Mr. Bacon’s mill dam, any further admixture 
will be effectually prevented. In order to ascertain to what 
amount the water at the outlet was affected, I procured a 
sample therefrom which is marked G, in Dr. Jackson’s an¬ 
alysis. The same will be found on reference thereto to he 
very slight. The purity of the waters of Spot and Mystic 
Ponds will be better understood by comparison with those 
introduced into some other cities. 

41.666 grains of Spot Pond water yield one grain of solid 
matter. 

27,397 grains of Mystic Pond water yield one grain of 
solid matter. 

16,826 grains of water of Croton River, the source of 
supply for the City of New York, yield one grain of solid 
matter. 

6.666 grains of Verulam and Wandle water, the rivers 
proposed by the late Mr. Telford for a further supply of the 
City of London, produce one grain of solid matter. 

It will be perceived from the above, that in the same quan¬ 
tity of Spot Pond and Croton River waters, the former con¬ 
tains but one third the foreign matter of the latter; also in the 
same quantities of Mystic Pond and Croton River, the former 
contains but one half the foreign matter of the latter. Spot 
Pond is to London water in point of purity as 7 to 1, and 
Mystic Pond to London water as 9 to 2. Should the city 


17 


resolve to bring water from these sources, we might boast 
with some truth of being supplied with pure water. 

By raising a dam at Mystic Pond, the same would be in¬ 
creased in extent 130 acres ; which added to the present area 
would be equivalent to 357.89 acres. 

The route proposed for a conduit from Mystic Pond is de¬ 
noted on the map by a blue line. Commencing at the pro¬ 
posed dam near the road to West Cambridge ; it crosses the 
low ground in a southern direction until it meets the Mystic 
Pond outlet a short distance west of the Middlesex Canal : 
crossing these waters by iron pipes under the bed of the 
stream, it reaches the Middlesex Canal, through which it is 
laid, and under the Lowell Rail Road which crosses the ca¬ 
nal at this point. At a proper distance from the Rail Road 
bridge it curves to the east and leaves the canal. From this 
last point it continues through good ground, about parallel 
with the canal, crossing the Medford road to Winter Hill, 
and entering the Medford Turnpike at the foot of the locks 
of the Branch Canal from the Middlesex to Medford River. 
Thence by gentle flexures, it follows the foot of the slope of 
the towing bank of the Middlesex Canal over hard clay 
ground throughout the remaining distance of the canal to the 
Main Street in Charlestown. Continuing through the Main 
Street a short distance, it curves around the base of Bunker 
Hill to the well of the steam engine house on a wharf pro¬ 
posed to be built out at this point; the distance from the dam 
being 26500 feet. The conduit I should recommend of 
brick masonry, laid in hydraulic cement, three feet in diam¬ 
eter ; which would be a sufficient size to ensure any supply 
that ever would be required. 

The size of the engine wells, pumps and mains to the re¬ 
servoir may be such as may be hereafter deemed expedient. 
A wharf on the east side of the hill will not only afford great 
facilities for vessels to land anthracite coal, but a great con¬ 
venience in having the same at the furnace mouth without any 
expense of teaming. The proposed reservoir is situated be¬ 
tween the engine house and the Spot Pond reservoir on the 
3 


18 



summit of the hill, at a height of fifty-eight feet above the 
coping of the Dry Dock, and sixty feet above high tides. 
The main from this reservoir into the city would be connect¬ 
ed with one of the mains proceeding from the upper reser¬ 
voir ; which main would, of course, be first detached from all 
communication with the upper reservoir. Jls Spot Pond 
would then supply the high service , the residue of the water , 
beyond what was required for the elevated portion of the city , 
should be made to flow over a waste weir into the lower 
[Mystic Pond) reservoir , and thus all the water of Spot 
Pond would be effectually disposed of in the supply of the 
high and low services. Then , as the consumption increased 
more or less , the balance would be supplied from Mystic 
Pond: but no expenditure is necessary at present to introduce 
Mystic Pond, nor would any be required for many years. 
When the time shall arrive that the waters of Spot Pond are 
insufficient to supply the increasing wants of the city , the 
above system may be adopted. 


1,000 00 


Estimated cost of an aqueduct from Spot Pond to Boston. 

New dam at the present outlet of 
Spot Pond, - 

Digging canal from Pond to new 
reservoir, 1329 feet long, 10 feet 
wide, 13 feet deep, 800 squares, 
a $2. 

Gates at the Pond for shutting of 
and regulating the water necessa¬ 
ry for filling reservoir, 

60 acres of land for new reservoir, 
reserving the wood thereon for 
the use of present owners, a $50 
per acre, - 

Dam at outlet of reservoir as fol¬ 
lows. 


1,600 00 


300 00 


3,000 00 


Amount carried forward. 


$5,900 00 


/ 




19 


Amount brought forward , $5,900 00 

Getting out 7103 perch of 
stone (rough) for walls, a $1 
per perch, - - - - 7,103 00 

Teaming and laying the same, a 

$2,50, - 17,757 50 

1324 squares of embankment 
and puddling, a $2,50, - 3,310 00 

Culverts. 

2 iron pipes, 150 feet long, 22 
inches diameter, a $7,50 per 
foot, leaded, - 1,125 00 

2 gates for drawing off the water 
from the reservoir, with frame 

work,. 300 00 

Screws for hoisting gates, - 50 00 

Sheet Piling, 400 00—31,045 50 

Iron pipe. 

26400 feet, 22 inches diameter 
from reservoir to Bunker Hill, 

delivered, - 161,894 90 

Trenching. 

27000 feet in length, 5 feet wide, 

6 feet deep, and filling same 
after the pipes are laid, a $4 
per square, - 15,000 00 

Damages for land for laying pipes 
from reservoir to Medford 
turnpike, the remainder of the 

way being in public road, 500 00—15,500 00 

Laying pipes. 

3046 joints, a $1,50 each, 4,569 00 

Lead for same, 78 lbs. per joint, 
a 7 cents, - 16,631 16—21,200 16 


Amount carried forward , 


$235,540 56 



20 




Amount brought forward , 

Expense crossing Medford River 
and Middlesex Canal, 

Bunker Hill reservoir, 200 feet 
square, 10 feet high, and stone 
walls. 

3200 perch of stone delivered, 
a §2,50, - 

Laying 3200 perch of stone, a 
§1,50, - 

Coping stone, 8000 cubic feet, 
a 25 cents, - 

Fitting and laying coping stone, 
Machinery for laying, 

Preparing ground and foundation, 
256 M brick for lining walls, a 

# 8 ,. 

1,000,000 brick for floor, 1 foot 
thick, a §8, - 

Laying 1256 M brick, a §3, - 

2500 bbls. hydraulic lime, a §3, 
100 bbls. English cement and la¬ 
bor of putting on the same, a 
$ 8 , - - - - - 
Stop gates and drain for reser¬ 
voir, - 

Land and flats at Bunker Hill, - 
Expense from Bunker Hill to 
Boston side of Warren bridge, 
2 iron pipes, 18 in. diameter, 
12200 feet, 1417 joints, a 
§40,60 per joint, - 
Trenching and filling to Warren 
Bridge, 4700 feet, 6 feet deep 
6 feet wide, 784 squares, a §4 


§235,540 56 
3,000 00 


8,000 00 

4,800 00 

2,000 00 
1,000 00 
1,000 00 
500 00 

2,04S 00 

8,000 00 
3,768 00 
7,500 00 


800 00 

500 00—39,916 00 

10,000 00 


57,530 20 


3,136 00 


Amount carried fonvard , 


§349,122 76 


% 


\ 





21 


Amount brought forward , 

Boiler iron at draw, extra, 
Lajnng 9400 feet iron pipes to 
Warren Bridge, 1085 joints, 
a $1,50 - 

Lead for 1085 joints, 50 lbs. per 
joint, a 7 cts., - 
Repairing streets and extra work, 
Crossing Warren Bridge, 1394 feet 
75 timber frames, 100 T. oak 
timber, a $10 per ton, 

50 M. pine plank, 5 inch board 
measure, a $20, - 
150 T. pine timber for sides, a 
$ 8 , - 

25 M. pine plank for covering, 
2| inch, a $20, - 

Making frames and carpenter’s 
work, - 

Iron bolts, spikes, &c. 

Expenses at bridge abutments, - 
Repairs of bridge, - 
Extra expenses at draw, - 
Air and stop cocks, teaming 
pipes, &c. - 

Superintendence and Engineering, 


$349,122 76 

1,000 00 


1,627 50 
3,797 50 

1,000 00-7,425 00 


1,000 00 

1,000 00 

1,200 00 

500 00 

4,000 00 
2,500 00 
2,000 00 
500 00 

500 00—13,200 00 

4,000 00 
15,000 00 


Whole cost, $388,747 76 

Estimate of cost of conduit of masonry , from Mystic Pond 

to Bunker Hill , 28,890 feet, 

4333| M. brick, a $10, - - 43,335 00 

Laying above, a $3, - - 13,000 50 

4333J casks hydraulic lime, a $3 13,000 50 
763 casks English cement, for 

lining, a $6, - 4,578 00 


Amount carried forward , 


$73,914 00 





22 


Amount brought forward, 


p3 

,914 

00 

Trenching and filling 28S90 feet 





in length, 10 feet average depth 





6 feet wide, 8025 squares, a $4 


32. 

,100 

00 

Damages—Flowage out of Bacon’s 





mill, - 


10, 

,000 

00 

Damages—Flowage of 130 acres of 





land, a $50, - 

6,500 

00 



2 acres of land at Pond, - 

200 

00— 6, 

700 

00 

Wharf at Bunker Hill, 


8, 

,000 

00 

Reservoir at Bunker Hill, 


39, 

,916 

00 

Dam and waste weir at Mystic 





Pond, ----- 


10, 

,000 

00 

House for engineer and attendants, 


3, 

,000 

00 

Engine house for two engines, 


5. 

,000 

00 

Two engines with pump, and fix- 





tures and well, - 


8: 

,500 

00 

Pipes from engine to reservoir, in- 





eluding laying, &c. - - - 


2, 

,000 

00 

Damage for use of land from Med- 





ford to Bunker Hill, 



500 

00 

Crossing Mystic River, Middlesex 





Canal and Railroad, 


3, 

500 

00 

Superintendence, engineering, &c. 


15, 

,000 

00 

Whole cost, - - - - 


$218, 

,130 

00 


I have made no calculations of the cost of pipes and other 
requisites for distribution ; as my instructions confined me to 
the cost of works to the Boston side of Warren bridge. 
This would not be an immediate expenditure of much amount 
of money, but would increase in proportion to the consump¬ 
tion, and must require very nearly the same investment of 
capital for any other project for supplying the city. This 
subject I shall attend to at any future time the committee 
may desire. 



23 


Table of Dwellings , <^*c. supplied with Schuylkill Water in the 
City of Philadelphia to the 31 st of December , 1835. 


In the City, 

Tenants. 

10,059 

Gallons per day 
consumed. 

1,881,033 

u 

“ Northern Liberties, 

2,436 

455,532 

u 

u Moyamensing, 

202 

37,774 

u 

u Kensington, 

173 

32,351 

u 

“ Spring Garden, 

1,634 

305,588 

cc 

u Southwalk, 

1,200 

224,400 

Supply from hydrant pumps, 

15,704 

3,000 



18,704 

Dividing the supply from the hydrants in proportion to the 


tenants in the city and districts. 

Tenants. 

Gallons per day. 

Quantity consumed in city by 

2,000 

is 374,000 

u u “ districts by 

1,000 

is 187,000 


Therefore the average number of 


gallons per day consumed in the 
city alone in 1S35, may be reck¬ 
oned at - 2,255,033 gallons. 

By the districts, - 1,242,615 u 

The first wheel and pump of the Fairmount Works was 
started July 1 , 1822. Since the operation of the works 
commenced, a period of fourteen years, we perceive the 
extent of consumption in the city amounts to 2,255,033 gal¬ 
lons per day. Therefore if it has taken this time for a pop¬ 
ulation double that of Boston, to use but the above amount 
of 2,225,033 gallons, may we not infer many years will 
elapse ere the city of Boston would consume an equal amount, 
with fewer facilities for distribution at the commencement, 
than were possessed by her sister city, Philadelphia. As 
different persons would differ in opinion as to the extent of 




24 


% 


time, and as it would be a difficult and intricate calculation, 
to ascertain the same to any degree of certainty, I shall 
leave this point to the judgment of the gentlemen composing 
the committee on this subject. 

1 have deemed it proper to add a calculation of the power 
and expense of fuel to raise 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 millions gallons 
100 feet high per day ; for the purpose of comparison with 
the cost of works to bring into the city at once , and at a large 
expenditure of capital, the amount of five millions gallons, a 
sufficient quantity for a future period. 

Expense of raising 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 millions gallons, 100 
feet per day. 

1,000,000 gallons— r7. 48=133690 cubic feet; 133690X 

8355625 

624=8355625 lbs. -^--=6963 lbs. raised 100 feet 

2 1200 


per minute=696300 lbs. raised one foot per minute= 


696300 

32000" 


=21.76 horse power, to which add one fifth for loss by fric¬ 
tion, say 26|- horse power required to raise 1,000,000 
gallons, 100 feet per day, at 60 cents per horse power for 
fuel per day. 


Gallons. 




Ter Da^. 

Per Year. 

1,000,000 

raised 100 feet cost. 

$15 90 

$5,803 50 

2,000,000 

a 

a 

a 

31 80 

11,607 00 

3,000,000 

a 

a 

a 

47 70 

17,410 50 

4,000,000 

a 

a 

a 

63 60 

3,214 00 

5,000,000 

t 

a 

a 

79 50 

29,017 50 


Capital required at 6 per cent, to furnish fuel to raise 1, 2, 
3, 4 and 5 millions gallons 100 feet per day. 


Per Day. 

] ,000,000 gallons, 
2 , 000,000 “ - 
3,000,000 “ - 

4 , 000,000 “ - 
5 , 000,000 “ - 


$96,725 00 
193,450 00 
290,175 00 
3S6,900 00 
483,625 00 


The above when compared with the cost of construction 

and yearly expense of any other project for suppling the city 













25 


with water, will afford a practical demonstration of a principle 
advanced in the former part of my report; viz. that so long 
as the cost of introduction from time to time, is in proportion 
to the consumption, no part of the capital is unproductive, or 
in other words, there will be no portion of the same expend¬ 
ed, on which compound interest in eleven years and simple 
interest in sixteen years will amount to a sum equal to the 
principal. 

I have made no estimates of the cost of attendance, oiling 
and repairs of the steam engines, as these are small items of 
expense, and the number ot persons employed would be 
about the same in any other system of water works. This 
of course would depend in a measure on the mode of con¬ 
struction of the conduit to the city, as iron pipes and brick 
masonry do not require such attention to be kept in repair 
and free from foreign matter, as open or covered canals con¬ 
structed of earth embankments and rough stone walls laid 
without cement. If it is an object to obtain the water in its 
pure state , as it is delivered from the pond or natural reser¬ 
voir, an iron pipe or aqueduct of masonry laid in hydraulic 
lime is certainly preferable to an open or covered canal of the 
above kind, which experience has taught, becomes a recepta¬ 
cle of animal and vegetable matter, from its communication 
with the surrounding earth. 

In my mind no further evidence is necessary to prove that 
even an investment of capital in steam works alone would be 
extremely profitable ; and this point settled, the inhabitants of 
any large town ought not to hesitate to supply themselves 
with an abundance of this great promoter of health, and pro¬ 
tector against the ravages of that devouring element, which 
has so lately swept from existence, in a neighboring city, an 
amount of property sufficient for the completion of three such 
w T ater projects as that from Croton River. 

It was my intention to have offered a few remarks on the 
importance of fresh water to our city, but as our well water 
is notoriously bad, as the introduction of coal has render¬ 
ed our rain water totally unfit for domestic purposes ; as 
4 


26 


the best processes of filtration will not destroy its smoky 
taste and effluvia; and as those inhabitants who for many 
years drank rain water caught in cisterns and filtered, are now 
obliged to resort to wells ; the inconvenience and injury to 
health, so palpable and increasing daily, are the best and 
strongest evidences of the necessity of introduction of one 
of Heaven’s greatest blessings, PURE WATER. 

I cannot close without mentioning to the committee, Messrs. 
W. Wiley, C. Brown and other young gentlemen in my office, 
to whom for the valuable assistance rendered me in the surveys 
and plans, much credit is due. 

Your very ob’t, 

R. H. EDDY, Engineer. 








27 


Analysis of Spot Pond water by Dr. C. T. Jackson , in 
1834, extracted from his Report. 

A. The water in this bottle contains a few minute floc- 
culi, but is otherwise transparent and colorless. It contains 
a few oval shaped animalculi with antennse and a tail of a 
minute size, which move with great velocity by starts, through 
the liquid. Specific gravity=l .003 pure water being=l. 

5000 grains distilled, and the evaporation finished in a 
watch glass over sulphuric acid covered with a bell glass ; 
there remained a brown residue=0.12 grs. which when 
burned, gave odor of vegetable matter, and left a grey ash 
consisting of lime aud silex=0.01 grs. 

1st. The water was now tested with a solution of Nitrate 
of silver in pure water. No precipitate took place, until the 
test tube was exposed to sun light, when the solution changed 
to a brown color, and a black precipitate subsided to the 
bottom of the glass. This indicates organic, vegetable 
matter. 

2d. Tested with oxalate of ammonia. No precipitate : 
hence contains no salt or lime. 

3d. Tested with muriate of barytes. No precipitate : 
hence does not contain any sulphate. 

4th. Tested with ferro cyanate of potash. No precipi¬ 
tate : hence does not contain any salt of iron. 

5th. Tested with hydro sulphate of ammonia. No pre¬ 
cipitate. 

6th. Tested with lime water. No precipitate : hence 
does not contain any carbonic acid. 

7th. Tested with a solution of soap in alcohol. No pre¬ 
cipitate takes place, and when shaken, it froths well ; hence 
is well adapted for washing. 


23 


Chemical Analysis of seven specimens of water for R. H. 

Eddy, Esq. Engineer. By C. T. Jackson , JM. D. 

Boston, January 21st and 23d. Mr. Eddy sent me seven 
bottles of water for chemical examination, the object of the 
analysis being to ascertain their relative purity and fitness for 
domestic use. 

The localities from whence the water was taken are to me 
unknown. 

Each specimen was designated by a mark, referring to the 
Engineer’s notes. These marks are the alphabetical letters, 
B, C, E>, E, F, G and H. Having entered the marks in the 
same regular order in my note book, I began the analysis and 
continued them in the same successive order. 

In the first place, I noticed their physical properties, such 
as color, clearness, transparency, and remarked on the exist¬ 
ence or not of animalculi, flocculi, of vegetable matter, &c. 
Then I took the specific gravity of each specimen, operating 
on a sufficient quantity to insure accuracy. For this purpose 
a specific gravity bottle was constructed of thin glass, capa¬ 
ble of holding exactly 1000 grains of distilled water at 60° 
Fahrenheit ; and when this bottle was filled with the water in 
question at the same temperature, its specific gravity could be 
easily learned by comparing its weight with 1000 the weight 
of the same bulk of pure water. 

After noticing the specific gravity, a portion of each kind 
of water under examination was tested by means of nitrate of 
silver dissolved in distilled water ; then by a solution of oxa¬ 
late of Ammonia, and by means of Acetate of Baryta, Tinc¬ 
ture of nut-galls. Ferro Cyanate of Potash, lime w r ater 
and tincture of soap and Litmus paper. By means of these 
tests, the presence of the usual impurities, such as Chloride 
of sodium (common salt,) Chloride of calcium (muriate of 
lime,) lime, Sulphate of lime, or any sulphate and salts of 
iron could be easily detected if present in the water. When 
water containing vegetable matter, such as Limine, is treated 
with a solution of Nitrate of silver and then exposed to sun 


I 





light, a beautiful red precipitate of Ulmate of silver is formed. 
Lime water serves to detect the presence of carbonic acid. 
Tincture of soap when it does not give any precipitate, shows 
that the water is u soft” and fit for washing. Litmus paper 
serves to detect the presence of any free acid. 

Portions of the water were then reduced in bulk by evap¬ 
oration, and again tested in the same manner. In order to 
determine the quantity of foreign matter in the water, ten 
thousand grains of the water were distilled, and when reduced 
to small bulk by this process, the evaporation was finished 
by placing the residue in small glass evaporating capsules, and 
exposing them to a dessiccating atmosphere, by means of a 
glass bell inverted over concentrated sulphuric acid ; the cap¬ 
sules being supported over the acid, and the common atmos¬ 
phere being excluded, by means of mercury surrounding the 
bottom of the bell glass. By this process, the last portions 
of water were removed from the extract, without the appli¬ 
cation of heat, so that no decomposition of the vegetable 
matter was produced. 

The dry residue obtained from each specimen of water 
was weighed in the capsule, and then carefully removed for 
ultimate analysis ; the loss in weight, after removing it from 
the capsule indicating its quantity. 

Some of the dry extracts were then analyzed by means of 
the deut-oxide of copper, in the usual way ; by heating to red¬ 
ness in a green glass tube and collecting the water and gases 
evolved by combustion. By this process, an ultimate analy¬ 
sis of the organic matter was obtained. Other portions of 
dry extract were burned alone on a plate oi platina, and the 
residue of combustion was then analyzed. The odor of the 
matter while burning, indicated the nature of the organic 

matter. 


Analysis , with Remarks. 


B. Water clear and colorless contains a few animalculi, 
which, according to the opinion of an excellent entomologist, 
Dr. Gould, are a species of Cyclops, a crustaceous animal¬ 
culi. They are very common in lake and river water, and 
unless very abundant, cannot be supposed to impair its 
qualities. 

C. Water slightly colored yellow ; a few particles of 
vegetable matter and flocculi of a white color are present. 
A few animalculi like those in B. also exist in this water. 

D. Water slightly yellow. Contains numerous animalculi. 

E. Water very slightly tinged with yellow ; contains a 
few animalculi. 

F. Water clear, colorless ; no animalculi present. 

G. Water clear, colorless ; no sediment, no animalculi. 

H. Water colorless ; white flocculi, numerous animalculi, 
like those before mentioned, are present. 

Specific Gravity taken in Specific Gravity bottle which 
contains 1000 grains distilled water at 60° F. 


B 

1000.10 

pure water being 

1000 

C 

1000.06 

cc 

cc 

cc 

cc 

D 

1000.10 

cc 

cc 

cc 

cc 

E 

1000.02 

cc 

cc 

cc 

cc 

F 

1000.06 

c c 

cc 

cc 

c c 

G 

1000.30 

u 

cc 

cc 

cc 

H 

1000.06 

cc 

cc 

cc 

cc 


Tested by means of a solution of Nitrate of Silver. 

B. No immediate precipitate : turns bright red on expos¬ 
ure to the sun’s light ; from which it is evident that no muri¬ 
ate exists in the water, but that it contains vegetable matter. 
Ulmine. 

C. No immediate precipitate : turns red on exposure to 
light. 

D. No immediate precipitate : turns red on exposure to 
light. 




/ 


31 

E. No immediate precipitate : turns red on exposure to 
light. 

F. No immediate precipitate : turns red on exposure to 
light. 

G. Slight white precipitate : becomes black by exposure 
to light ; contains a muriate in small quantity, ulmine and ani¬ 
mal organic matter. 

H. No immediate precipitate : turns red on exposure to 
light ; contains ulmine. 

Each specimen of water tested by means of a solution of 
Oxalate of Ammonia, none of them gave any precipitate, 
hence do not contain salts of lime. 

When tested by means of a solution of Acetate of Baryta, 
none of the specimens of water gave any precipitate, hence 
they do not contain any Sulphate of any base. 

Tested by means of Tincture of nut galls, and by means 
of a solution of Ferro Cyanate of potassa, no precipitate en¬ 
sues, hence the water does not contain any salt of Iron. 

Lime water does not produce any turbidness, hence no 
carbonic acid, in a free state, exists in the water. 

Tincture of soap does not render the water turbid, and 
when shaken the water froths perfectly well, hence the water 
is soft and suitable for washing. 

Litmus paper is not changed in color by the water, hence 
no free acid is present. 

In order to determine the quantity of foreign matter, in 
each specimen of the water in question, 10000 grains were 
distilled in a glass retort, and the dry extract obtained by 
slow evaporation, in a desiccating atmosphere. The dry 
residue weighed by substitution, as follows, 


B. 

10000 

grains, gave dry extract 

of a light brown color, 

0.6 grs. 

C. 

10000 

U 

u 

0.4 

JD. 

10000 

U 

u 

0.6 

E. 

10000 

U 

u 

0.2 

F. 

10000 

a 

u 

0.5 

G. 

10000 

u 

a 

2.0 

H. 

10000 

/ 

u 

u 

0.36 

, / 


The dry extract obtained from water marked B, was mix¬ 
ed with deut-oxide of copper, introduced into a green glass 
tube, closed at one extremity, the other being drawn out, and 
introduced into a small glass globe, from the other side of 
which a small tube passed, and bent at right angles, was in¬ 
troduced into a small bottle of pure caustic potash in solution. 
The tube being heated, the oxygen of the oxide of copper, 
combined with the hydrogen and carbon of the organic mat¬ 
ter ; water was produced which was condensed in the globe 
by application of ice. The carbonic acid gas passed into the 
solution of potash and was absorbed. No other gas except¬ 
ing oxygen was extricated. Hence the organic matter con¬ 
sisted of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, the elements of 
Ulmine. It was impossible to determine their relative pro¬ 
portions in so minute a quantity of organic matter. 

The other extracts were burned alone on a plate of platina. 

C. 0.6 grains burned with odor of vegetable matter, and 
left 0.3 grains grey ashes, consisting of lime, oxide of iron, 
and silica, a trace. 

D. 0.6 grains treated in the same manner, gave odor of 
vegetable matter, and left a minute quantity of lime, oxide of 
iron and potash. 

E. 0.2 grains burned with odor of vegetable matter, and 
left a trace of lime and oxide of iron. 

F. 0.5 grains burned in same manner, with similar re¬ 
sults. 

G. 2.0 grains burned with odor of vegetable and animal 
matter, and left ashes, consisting of lime, oxide of iron, sul¬ 
phate of lime, chloride of sodium (salt) potash and phosphate 
of lime. 

H. 0.36 grains burned with vegetable odor, with same 
results as E. 

We may then conclude that the specimens of water marked 
C, E, F and H, are the purest of those submitted to me for 
analysis ; B and D are next in order, but G is too impure to 
be desirable. E is the purest of all the specimens. H and 
F stand next in value. F will doubtless be preferred , on ac- 



S3 


count of the absence of animalculi , and it is of sufficient chem¬ 
ical purity for every domestic use. 

It will be at once perceived, that every kind of water you 
sent me, will answer perfectly well for washing and for ordi¬ 
nary use ; yet, those kinds that are the purest, will be pre¬ 
ferred for drinking, and other things being equal, they should 
be chosen to supply the wants of our citizens. 

The vegetable matter which exists in all the specimens of 
water above analyzed, is one of the common impurities of 
lake water ; and is derived from the vegetable matter in and 
around the lakes ; it is not considered injurious in any way 
to health. It is entirely destitute of taste or odor, and is 
only detected by delicate chemical tests. 

I have now only to remark, that it is very desirable that 
pure water should be brought into the City of Boston, for 
the purpose of supplying the citizens with an abundant source 
of wholesome and palatable drink; as also for the purposes of 
washing and keeping the streets clean, besides affording an 
abundant supply for quenching the ravages of fire. It is well 
known that our city suffers much from want of an abundant 
supply of pure water. All the members of the Boston Medi¬ 
cal Association have declared it to be their opinion, that such 
a supply is urgently demanded, and that many diseases are 
altogether unmanageable while the people are obliged to make 
use of such impure water as is now generally drank. 

I feel deeply interested in this subject, and have made 
numerous chemical analyses of Boston well water, in order 
to estimate the amount of impurities drank by our citizens; 
and I feel no hesitation in expressing it as my opinion, that 
if the use of Boston well water is persevered in for years, it 
will have the effect to undermine the most robust constitu¬ 
tion, and will eventually render us a more sickly people than 
we are at present. 

It appears to me that the cc care worn expression ” which 
strangers remark in the countenances of Bostonians is to be 
imputed, in a great measure, to the disorders produced by 
the action of impure water in their constitutions. No reme- 
5 


34 


dy can be found so efficient as a copious supply of lake wa¬ 
ter, from sources in the neighborhood of our city. 

If the ancient Romans were able to construct massive 
brick aqueducts, extending across their marshes and plains, for 
15 or 20 miles ; I should think that the enlightened moderns 
mizht, with their abundant resources, and the use of cheap 
iron pipes, feel capable of supplying themselves with this most 
important of all necessaries of life , even though they were 
obliged to construct an aqueduct of twenty miles extent. 

Your ob’t serv’t, 

(Signed) CHARLES T. JACKSON. 


LETTER FROM GEORGE ODIORNE, ESQ. 

Boston , May 30th, 1836. 

Robert H. Eddy, Esq. 

Sir, —In compliance with your request of yesterday, I 
have the pleasure to state that the proprietors of Spot Pond 
derive their title to it from an original and unconditional grant 
of the General Court of the Province of Massachusetts Bay 
in the year 1640. Said grant was for 500 acres ; to include 
the great swamp and pond lying in Charlestown, (now Stone- 
ham.) 

The same year, Thomas Coitmore, the grantee, erected a 
temporary dam across the outlet, by which he raised the 
water to the height of nine feet above its usual level, and 
built a corn-mill upon the stream. Very soon after this, Mr. 
Coitmore died and his widow inherited the estate. During 
her widowhood the dam became leaky, and by the consequent 






35 

waste of water, many acres around the pond were laid bare, 
and soon yielded large crops of hay. In 1650, the widow 
married John Coggin, who repaired the dam and restored the 
water to its former height. The abuttors, being displeased 
with the loss ol what they called cc their meadows,” com¬ 
menced suits at law for the recovery of them, but were de¬ 
feated ; they then prosecuted for damages by flowing, and 
were defeated. They then committed various trespasses, by 
obstructing the stream issuing from the pond, and by making 
breaches in the dam to the injury of the mill owners, and for 
these trespasses they had to pay damages. They then pe¬ 
titioned the Governor and Council for redress, alleging that 
the dam at Spot Pond had been raised above its original 
height, whereby their meadows were overflowed to their 
injury, and prayed that viewers might be appointed to examine 
the respective claims of the parties, and report thereon. 
The prayer of this petition was granted, and the examination 
resulted in establishing what should be considered as the high 
water mark. A hole was accordingly drilled in a permanent 
rock near the water’s edge, and at the height agreed on, 
which hole has been for more than a hundred years a standing 
umpire between the parties. See Sullivan’s Land Titles, 
page 280. 

The present owners of the pond have in their possession 
authenticated copies of all the transfers of the premises, 
whether by deed or will, and also of all the decisions of courts 
in relation to the pond since its grant to Coitmore, and they 
know of no adverse claim : but that they enjoy the exclusive 
right to use the waters thereof in any way they please. 

Any other information I may possess, I shall cheerfully 
communicate, if needed. 

Your respectful and obedient servant, 

(Signed) GEO. ODIORNE. 


I 


<£ommontoealtfj of S&asMdjusetts. 


In the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty Six. 


AN ACT 

To incorporate the Boston Hydraulic Company. 

BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
in General Court assembled , and by the authority of the same , 
as follows : 

Section 1 . William Sullivan, Daniel P. Parker, Caleb 
Eddy, their associates and successors, are hereby made a 
Corporation, by the name of the Boston Hydraulic Company, 
with all the powers and privileges, and subject to all the 
duties, liabilities and provisions contained in the forty-fourth 
chapter of the Revised Statutes, passed on the fourth day of 
November, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-five. 

Sect. 2. The capital stock of said Company shall con¬ 
sist of one thousand shares, and no assessment shall be laid 
thereon of a greater amount in the whole, than one thousand 
dollars on each share. 

Sect. 3. The said Corporation may purchase, take and 
hold in fee simple, or for any less estate, any lands, neces¬ 
sary for the objects of this act, and for the convenient man¬ 
agement of the concerns of said Company, not exceeding in 
value the sum of two hundred thousand dollars, and may take 
any ponds or lands covered with water, situated northwardly 
of Charles River, and within twelve miles of the City of Bos¬ 
ton, for the purpose of conducting water therefrom through 
the town of Charlestown, in the county of Middlesex, and 
into and through the City of Boston ; and to this end, may 
take and hold any lands necessary for laying aqueducts, form¬ 
ing reservoirs, and any flats flowed by tide waters, which 
may be required to carry the objects of this act into effect, 
and may erect such wharves and other buildings as such Cor¬ 
poration may find expedient, and establish such steam en¬ 
gines, and other machinery as may be necessary for the pur- 










37 




poses aforesaid, and if the proprietors of lands which said 
Corporation may take at or near ponds or elsewhere, for the 
purpose of laying pipes or conductors of water, constructing 
reservoirs, wharves or other buildings, or for the protection 
of the ponds whence water is to be taken or drawn by said 
Company, do not agree with said Company on the price to 
be paid therefor, any such proprietor may have the damages 
assessed in the same manner as is provided in the one hun¬ 
dred and sixteenth chapter of the Revised Statutes, passed 
on the fourth day of November, in the year one thousand 
eight hundred and thirty-five ; and the said Corporation in all 
cases, where it does not acquire title to any land by volun¬ 
tary conveyance, shall cause a certificate describing the land 
so taken, to be signed by the President of said Company and 
recorded in the Registry of Deeds of the county in which 
the land lies. 

Sect. 4. The said Corporation may erect dams at the 
outlets of any ponds, which said Corporation may take pur¬ 
suant to the provisions of this act ; and if any person shall 
thereby be deprived of water which has been accustomed to 
flow through or over his land ; or if any land of any person 
shall be flowed by means of raising the water by such dam, 
the party so injured may recover reasonable damages therefor 
in the manner provided by the preceding section. 

Sect. 5 . The said Corporation is hereby authorized and 
empowered to lay its pipes or aqueducts, under or over any 
rail road, canal, high-way, or street, provided always, that 
the same be done in such manner as not to obstruct or im¬ 
pede the passing thereon ; and said Corporation may lay its 
pipes and aqueducts under or near Warren Bridge now 
erected across Charles River, from the town of Charlestown 
to the City of Boston, through the whole length of said 
bridge and its abutments ; Provided always, that the same be 
so done as not to impede or obstruct the convenient passing 
of said bridge, and provided also, that in laying said pipes 
and aqueducts, or in the use or repair thereof from time to 
time, no damage or injury shall be done to said bridge ; and 
provided further, that the pipes or aqueducts be so laid in 


38 


* 


Charles River as not to obstruct or impede the free passage 
of any vessel thereon. 

Sect. 6. The said Corporation in laying its pipes or 
aqueducts through the high-ways and streets of the town of 
Charlestown and in the City of Boston, and in repairing such 
pipes and aqueducts from time to time, shall not unnecessa¬ 
rily obstruct such high-ways and streets ; and in every case 
of the removal of any earth or pavement in any such high¬ 
way or street, the said Corporation shall cause the earth to 
be replaced and the pavement to be laid anew, so that such 
high-way or street shall be in as good condition as the same 
were in before such removal. 

Sect. 7. In the laying and construction of the pipes or 
aqueducts which may be laid in the town of Charlestown and 
in the City of Boston, the same shall be so laid and con¬ 
structed that water can be drawn therefrom for the extinguish¬ 
ment of fires and to be used by the persons thereto author¬ 
ized by the town of Charlestown, and by the City of Boston 
respectively, and free access to the water in such pipes and 
aqueducts shall be had whenever the same shall be laid within 
the City of Boston, and within that part of the town of 
Charlestown lying within or eastwardly of the neck so called ; 
and the said town and city shall have the right at their own 
cost respectively, to place fire-plugs and all proper and neces¬ 
sary fixtures therefor upon any pipes or aqueducts of said 
Corporation, and at as many different places in the several 
highways and streets as the Selectmen of the said town and 
the Mayor and Aldermen of the said city shall deem needful 
for the purpose of drawing water for the extinguishment of 
any fires which may happen in said town or city, Provided, 
that the said fire-plugs and fixtures shall not be used for the 
purpose of drawing water from said pipes for any other use 
than for the extinguishment of fires, and shall be so con¬ 
structed as to prevent the water in the pipes from running to 
waste, and the said Corporation shall not demand or receive 
any compensation for water taken for the extinguishment of 
fires as aforesaid. 

Sect. 8. If any person shall wilfully, and maliciously, 






39 


defile, corrupt or make impure any pond or ponds, used by 
said Corporation as aforesaid, or destroy or injure any dam, 
pipe, aqueduct, machinery or other property of said Corpora¬ 
tion, such person and all who shall aid or abet in such tres¬ 
pass, shall forfeit to the use of the said Company for every 
such offence treble the amount of damages which shall appear 
on the trial to have been sustained thereby, and may further 
be punished by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, or 
may be imprisoned for a term not exceeding one year. 

Sect. 9. The said Corporation is hereby empowered to 
sell the privilege of using the water which may be conducted 
from the ponds as aforesaid to any Corporation, person or 
persons, said contracts to continue for no longer term than 
three years, provided that no compensation shall be taken for 
the use thereof for the extinguishment of fires as aforesaid ; 
and the said Corporation may make all reasonable rules and 
regulations, as to the manner and the times in which said 
water may be taken and used. 

Sect. 10. Whenever the said Corporation shall have ap¬ 
propriated any pond or ponds, or any lands, which it may 
deem necessary and proper for carrying the purposes of this 
act into effect, no other corporation, person or persons, shall 
enter upon such pond or ponds, or land for the purpose of 
conducting the waters in such pond or ponds, or any streams 
connected therewith into the City of Boston or town of 
Charlestown ; nor draw the same out of said pond or ponds 
for any purpose whatsoever ; but such waters shall be and 
remain to and for the use of said Corporation, so long as said 
Corporation shall supply the town of Charlestown and the 
City of Boston with water from said ponds according to the 
true intent and meaning of this act. 

Sect. 11 . The said Corporation shall cause a true and 
faithful record of its proceedings, and just and accurate ac¬ 
counts, to be kept, which books and accounts shall be subject 
at all times, to the inspection of any committee appointed by 
the General Court, or by a committee appointed by the City 
Council of Boston and all officers and agents of said Corpo¬ 
ration shall be liable to examination on oath by either of said 
committees. 


40 


Sect. 12. The City of Boston shall have the right to 
subscribe [in common with others] for one third part of the 
shares in said Corporation, or any less proportion thereof; 
and the said city may at any time purchase of the said 
Corporation, their franchise and all their personal and real 
property by paying therefor such a sum as together with 
their receipts will reimburse the whole amount expended 
with an annual interest of ten per cent.; and from and after 
the execution and delivery of the conveyance and transfer 
aforesaid, the said City of Boston shall have all the right 
and be subject to all the duties in this act expressed as to 
said Corporation, and especially as to continuing the sup¬ 
ply of water to the town of Charlestown. 

Sect. 13. If the said Corporation shall not have begun 
to carry this act into effect by actually laying pipes and aque¬ 
ducts within three years from the passing of this act ; or if 
the whole of the works necessary to bring water into the City 
of Boston shall have not been completed and put to that use 
within six years after the passing of this act, then and in 
either of said cases, this act shall be void. 

Sect. 14. This act shall be void unless the City Coun¬ 
cil of the City of Boston shall within four months after the 
passage thereof declare by vote their assent thereto, and if 
such assent be obtained, this act and an attested copy of 
the record of such assent shall be recorded in the registry of 
deeds for the County of Suffolk. 

House of Representatives, April 16, 1836. 

Passed to be enacted. 

JULIUS ROCKWELL, Speaker. 

In Senate, April 16, 1836. 

Passed to be enacted. 

HORACE MANN, President. 

Council Chamber, April 16, 1836. 
Approved : EDWARD EVERETT. 

Copy—Attest, JOHN P. BIGELOW, 

Secretary of the Commonwealth. 







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